What happened
During a flight over the Atlantic Ocean, an aircraft experienced a complete loss of engine power after approximately two hours and 16 minutes of flight time. The engines exhibited surging behavior before eventually stopping, which was determined to be a result of fuel exhaustion. Prior to the incident, the pilot had relied on electronic fuel gauges during pre-flight checks to estimate the remaining fuel supply. During the final leg of the journey, these gauges began providing erratic readings.
While the pilot considered diverting the flight to Freeport, the decision was made to continue the original route because weather conditions were below the required minimums for diversion. Following the loss of power, the aircraft was ditched in the ocean. The wreckage subsequently sank to a depth of 800 feet. Despite the severity of the ditching, all three occupants were rescued from the scene.
Findings
An investigation into the accident revealed that the primary cause of the engine failure was fuel exhaustion. Analysis of fuel slips indicated that the actual fuel consumption was within a margin of 10 to 15 gallons of the point of total depletion. The investigation highlighted several contributing factors related to the pilot's actions, including inaccurate fuel consumption calculations and inadequate pre-flight planning. Additionally, the failure of the fuel quantity gauges during the flight contributed to the misjudgment of the remaining fuel supply. The crew's inability to refuel during the flight further complicated the situation.